Spring motor



SPRING IOTOR Jan. 6, 1925,

Filed Oct 13. 1923 Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES iszznte DANIEL E. 0130M, 0Z5 BEYDIINETTSVILLE,

SOUTH CAROLINA.

SPRING T/IOTGB.

Application filed fictober 13, 192 3.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. DANIEL E. Goon. a citizen of the United States, residing at Bennettsville, in the connt-y of Marlboro and State of South Carolina. have inve tain new and useful Improvements in 3} 1 Motors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanving drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in spring motors and it is an objectof the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character wherein overwinding of the spring is prevented, the present invention being primarily an improvement of the embodiment: of my invention as comprised in my pending ap plication Serial No. 605,299 filed December 6,1922.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character embodying a spring and a drum associated therewith wherein the tension of the spring normally maintains the same in driving connection with the dnum and which connection constitutes an annular member fitting substantially snug within the drum and to which the spring is connected, said annular member and drum being pro vided with coacting means whereby the same are normally in looking engagement.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my :im proved spring motor whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered'simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for usenas will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

- The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In. order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through a motor constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention showing the spring completely wound:

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9r2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating another embodiment of my invention;

'Figure' 4 is afragmentary sectional view Serial no. 658302.

illustratin another form of my invention;

Figure 0 is a ti agmentary sectional view illustrating still further embodiment of invention:

ure 6 is a sectional view taken substanthe line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating still another embodiment of my invention.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, D denotes a drum or driven member of requisite diment ns and which is mounted upon the shaft 5, said drum D and shaft 8 having relative rotation under the instrui'nentality of the spring A. The spring A is of the conventional spiral type and has its inner end portion suitably fixed, as at 1 to the shaft S.

Fitting substantially snug within the drum D is an annular member M possessing a certain degree of inherent resiliency and which upon abnormal strain imposed there on, is free to rotate independently of the drum. The wall of the member M is corrugated transversely entirely therearound whereby the outer face of the member M is provided circumfei'entially therearound with the spaced grooves or channels 2 extending circumtlerentially thereof. The adjacent wall of the drum l) is provided with a plurality of inwardly disposed projections 3 herein disclosed as three in number and equidistantly spaced. it is to be understood however. that these projections may be more or less in number as the requirements of practice may prefer.

As disclosed in Figure 1, these projections consistitute ribs or beads pressed out of the wall of the drum and disposed transversely thereof. Normally. the projections 3 are engaged within certain of thegrooves or channels 2. such engagement being main tained by the inherent resiliency of the member M, said member being of such diameter as to assure at all times frictional contact of said member M with the projections 3.

The outer end of the spring A is riveted or otherwise secured. as at 4-, to the inner face of the member M.

In winding the spring A. requisite rotation is imparted to the shaft S and after the spring A has been wound to its predetermined tension further rotation of the shaft will cause the member M to have movement independently of the drum D so that upon such further turning of the shaft S,

further winding of the spring is prevented. By this it will be understood that the wind ing action for the spring A becomes inactive when the strain imposed upon the spring A is greater than the resistance of the member M and the projections 3 to relative rotation.

In Figure 3, I disclose a form of my in vention wherein the projection a. constitutes a head or lug slidably disposed through the adjacent wall of the drum, said head or lug being constantly urged inwardly oi the drum bythe coil spring Z). The coil spring Z) together with the major portion of the lug or head a is contained within a housing 0 carried by the drum.

The character of the projections carried by the drum D may be varied and as illus trated in Figure 4. such projections com prise a lug or head 5 t'recly disposed through a suitable opening 6 in the adjacent wall of the drum. The outer end of the head or lug 5 is provided with an outstanding shank 7 upon which is threaded or otherwise engaged a nut 8 or the like. A leaf spring 9 secured at one end portion. as at 10, to the outer face of the wall of the drum while the opposite or free end portion of said spring bears against the nut 8 resulting in the head or lug 5 being constantly urged inwardly of the drum yet permitting the same to have requisite yielding movement to assure the proper tunetioning of the device. In order to tacilitate the desired engagement of the spring 9 with the nut 8. said spring is provided with an opening 11 through which the shank 7 is freely disposed.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figure 5, the projection 12 comprises a separali lc strip or cleat disposed transversely of the adjacent wall of the drum and provided with the longitudinally spaced outstanding shanks 14; diaposed throngh suitably positioned openings in the wall of the drum. the outer end por tions of said shanks 14 being upset. as at 15. to assure the proper maintenance of the member 12 in applied position.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figure 7. the strip or cleat 12 has its outstanding shanks 14 t'reely disposed through the adjacent wall of the drum. Threaded through said wall of the drum and at a point substantially midway of the shanks 14 is a bolt 16 having its inner end contacting with the strip or cleat 12 whereby said strip or cleat 12 may be adjusted with respect to the adjacent wall of the drum in order to assure the proper functioning of the device. After the desired adjustment of the strip or cloat 12 has been effected. such adjustment is maintained by the locking nut 17 threaded upon the bolt 16 and coacting in a well known manner with the adjacent wall of the drum.

From the foregoing description it is thought. to be obvious that a. spring motor constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated. and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible ol some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myse i to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1- l. In combination with two members supported for relative rotation. one of said members constituting a drum. a spiral spring having one end portion connected to the second of said members. an annular member fitting substantially snug within the drum. means for securing the other end of the spring to said annular member. said annular member being transversely corrugated entirely therearouml whereby the outer face of said annular member is provided with recesses. and an inwardly disposed projection carried by the drum for engagement with any one of said recesses.

In combination with two members supported for relative rotation. one of said members constituting a drum. a spiral spring having one end portion connected to the second of said members. an annularmember fitting substantially snug within the drum. means for securing the other end of the spring to said annular member. said annular member being transversely corrugated entirely therearound whereby the outer face of said annular member is provided with recesses. and an inwardly disposed projection carried by the drum for engagement with any one of said recesses oi the annular member. said annular member being resilient.

3. In combination with two members supported for relative rotation. one of said members constituting a drum. a spiral spring having one end portion connected to the second of said members an annular member fitting substantially snug within the drum. means for securing the other end of the spring to said annular member, said annular member being transversely corrugated entirely therearound whereby the outer face of said annular member is provided with recesses. and inwardly disposed projections carired by the drum spaced circumferentially thereof for engagen'lent with any of said recesses of the annular member, said annular member being resilient and constantly in frictional contact with the projections.

4:. In combination with two members supported for relative rotation, one of said members constituting a drum, a spiral spring having one end portion connected to the second of said members, an annular member fitting substantially snug within the drum, means for securing the other end of the spring to said annular member, said annular member being transversely corrugated entirely therearound whereby the outer face of said annular member is pro vided with recesses, and an inwardly dis posed projection carried by the drum for engagement with any one of said recesses of the annular member, said projection being movable with respect to the drunr 5. In combination with two members sup ported for relative rotation, one of said members constituting a drum, a spiral spring having one end portion connected to the second of said members, an annular member fitting substantially snug within the drum, means for securing the other end of the spring to said annular member, said annular member being transversely corrugated entirely therearound whereby the outer face of said annular member is provided with recesses, and an inwardly disposed projection carried by the drum for engagement with any one of said recesses of the annular member, said projection being slidably disposed through the wall oi? the drum, and means for urging said projection inwardly of the drum.

6. In combination with two members supported for relative rotation, one of said. members constituting a drum, a spiral spring having one end portion connected to the second of said members, an annular member fitting substantially snug within the drum, means for securing the other end of the spring to said annular member, said annular member being transversely corrugated entirely therearound whereby the outer face of said annular member is provided with recesses, and an inwardly disposed projection carried by the drum for engagement with any one of said recesses of the annular member, said projection being removable from the drum.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

DANIEL E. ODOM. 

